User Experience of the OpenAir Software for Data Analysis and Assessment of Dispersion Model Performance

Dr Michael A Bull Director, Ove Arup and Partners Ltd

Openair Software
Openair is a set of innovative data analysis tools for the air pollution community. It is intended to provide free, open-source software that allows users to better visualise, analyse and interpret their data
The main objectives of Openair are: To develop innovative analysis tools for air pollution measurement data and dispersion modelling output; To provide those tools to the wider air pollution community; To seek the involvement of other researchers nationally and internationally.
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Openair project
Originally led by ITS at Leeds Is a NERC Funded knowledge exchange programme for the air quality community Principal investigator is Dr David Carslaw, now at Kings College London All the tools have been developed within the R Software Package

R Environment

Openair R Environment
First step is formatting data before importing into package Openair is rather fussy about data formats Requires that missing data is formatted consistently For those unfamiliar with command line programming and languages interface can be frustrating at first; Commands are case sensitive and not intuitive at first Still provides a powerful and extremely useful tool for air quality scientists
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Data usually imported through a csv file

Openair Data Import

Date must be in required format dd/mm/yyyy HH:MM although more expert users can use functions that allow more flexible data import Although the software can handle multiple missing data formats, it helps to use a consistent approach Some data preparation is therefore helpful before importing into package

Summary of data summaryPlot function

Some Familiar Data Analyses Wind and Pollution Roses

But Openairs strengths lie in its less familiar functions

How do you use this to find out more?

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With Temporal and Directional Data you can find out so much more!

timeVariation function reveals

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Examine the Directional Influence

polarPlot function

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Now combine temporal and directional data a cross between a diurnal plot and a pollution rose!

polarAnnulus function

Queuing traffic at peak hours

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Some functions amusing can be good for a general view of the data

calendarPlot function

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trendLevel function

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linearRelation function

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Is a particular source responsible for a problem?

First the raw data

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Examination of the temporal variations

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Examination of the Directional Influences

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Combine the two

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Use of Openair for assessment of model performance

Assessment of Model Performance

Our normal approach to model validation is simply to compare the predicted and measured values But we want to know that the model is predicting the correct value for the right reasons Does the model represent whats observed in the environment Openair can help examine this.

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Example (a real one!)

We have a monitoring station near to a large road; The local authority also has a background site in a good location, not unduly influenced by the local road network within a few km We have good traffic data Setting up a simple ADMS-Roads model using the local weather and background data and the traffic information provides us with a predicted NO2 value within 2% (with no model correction) At this point we could walk away with a job well done!
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Measured data

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Modelled Data

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Comparing Measured and Modelled Data

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Conclusions
Openair provides a valuable set of new data analysis tools aimed at the air quality community These tools allow us to examine data in much more detail and using new graphical techniques provides a substantially great insight into both monitoring and modelling data Its functions can be readily applied for the assessment of model performance and can improve our understanding of the modelling process

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Conclusions
Openair provides a valuable set of new data analysis tools aimed at the air quality community These tools allow us to examine data in much more detail and using new graphical techniques provides a substantially great insight into both monitoring and modelling data Its functions can be readily applied for the assessment of model performance and can improve our understanding of the modelling process

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Conclusions
Command line approach makes the use of Openair somewhat more difficult that a typical Windows package Interface is not intuitive, you need to have the manual next to you to remember the commands Commands are complex and difficult to remember E.G. smoothTrend(mydata, pollutant = "o3", deseason = TRUE, type = "wd", simulate = TRUE) BUT! The software provides a great set of tools that can open your eyes to what your data says!
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Thank you
For more information see www.openair-project.org the official Openair project website), download the software and manual and keep up to date with developments with the project. www.airqualityconsultant.co.uk my personal website with some examples of the use of Openair included

Michael Bull michael.bull@arup.com

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Thank you -